The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-21
HE WAS VERY CALM.

| How a Brave Dakota Man Kept Up the
Courage of Four Unprotected Females.
A weli-knOwn resident of Sioux Falls
was out driving in the country one day
last week. While coming back, and
when about four miles from the city, a
heavy wind came up. To the we'll
known resident it looked cyclOnish, and
he drove up to the first house. He went
in and found three or four ladies, who
were alone in the house and somewhat
frightened.
There is no danger, ladies, no
danger, assure you. Simplya straight
wind-no cyclone. Keep cool. BY the
way-er-iS there cellar under the
house?"
"Yes, sir"
"Um!-that is good. No danger
though, as [ said. Pray keep calm and
it will be over directly. Where-where
did you say the cellar door WASP"
"Over there in the corner"
"Ah, yes, thanks, this one. Yes, I'll
open it-might as we'll be open as shut
you know. There will be no need of
going down, however. Simply little
thunder shower accompanied by wind. "
We're not very much frightened. :"
"Of course not-that's right-neither
am l." Just then the house began to
shake, and the limb of a tree scratched
against the window. don't be at all
alarmed, ladies. you keep right still.
Good cellar, Isuppose," he added, peer
ing down.
Yes"
Here board blew off the fence and
slapped against the side of the house.
I'm going down a moment, ladies.
don't be frightened; the house is safe, y
and he shot down the stairs, slipped off
a broken step towards the bottom and
landed in a box of eggs. Stay right
where you are, ladies" he shouted from
the cellar; it is about all over now."
Just then the wind blew open the out
side cellar door and an empty barrel
rolled down.
"Great-oh, nothing, nothing at allr'
howled the man as he leaped over to the
other side of the cellar, '.try and be
calm, ladies. This wind will purify the
atmosphere. You aren't scared much,
hope?"
80, no, not much"
That's right; keep up your courage
ladies are usually SO easily fright
ened Say" as he tried to dig the sand,
which was blowing in, out of his eyes,
and stepped in Il crock of butter, ''say,
would one of you mind going around
and shutting that outside door??"
I'VE will when it stops blowing a
little"
Then an empty box tipped over and
rolled down the stairway, the wind
roared louder than ever and there was
a sharp clap of thunder.
''Be calm. ladies; try and be calm
for your own sakes o. great heav-
ems! it's going. it's goingr he groaned
as he crouched in one corner in a box
CT glass fruit cans and thought he saw
one corner of the house raise little
20, goodness me. I'm lost-it's going
sure! Keep cool, ladies, there is no
danger! For heavens sake see that
corner flop up! Be calm, ladies, sim.
ply little furry of wind! o, III give
Il thousand dollars to he out of thisr'
and he dug his feet into the box and
broke two cans of strawberries. Try
and bear up, ladies! 1t will soon be
over o, if l ever get out alive I'll
leave this blasted country! Good gra-
cious. ladies. when are you going to
shut that door? Be calm! Be calm!
but shut that door!"
'.Mollie has gone out to shut it now
the wind is all over" replied one of
the ladies.
..Yes, it's all over. l know" replied
the man, cautiously coming to the foot
of the stairs. Il told you it soon would
be. You see there was no reason fol
becoming so alarmed. But you ladies
always will, you always will," he added,
as he came on up and peered out the
corner of window Il don't doubt
that YOU would have been still more
scared if had not happened along and
made you understand there was really
no danger"
Then he went out and started for
town. But just before he got there the
man who lived at the house. having ar.
rived home meantime. overlook him
riding big white horse. and made him
pay 81 for the butter he spoiled and
$3.50 for the fruit and seventy-five
cents for the eggs, and took five dol.
lar bill and said he didn't have any
change and rode off with it.-Ddk0tC
! Bell.